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Equine Therapy

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Submitted By poohervin
Words 342
Pages 2
Tania Ervin
Sandra Tebbe
RESC
13 October 2014

Animals as Co-Therapists

Using animals as co-therapists' has become a very common therapy method in today's society. Animals such as cats, dogs, and more commonly, horses, have made a huge impact on children, teens, and adults with communication and social issues. Incorporating the use of an animal, for example, showing them how to correctly clean up after an animal and how to properly care for and feed an animal, shows them a sense of responsibility.
When a person who has social and communication issues is put in an environment with a horse, who can otherwise sense when something is wrong with their rider, a special bond is created. Within this relationship think of the horse as the therapist and the rider as the patient. As the rider gets more comfortable with the horse, they start to open up more. The horse becomes more of their bestfriend than their "therapist".

This shows that using animals as co-therapists' can be helpful in more ways than one. Because horses are such sensitive animals, they require patience, a sense of understanding, and of course care. During the process of teaching a someone how to properly take care of a horse, they learn their feeding schedules, how to pick up and clean up after them, and how to brush and keep up with their coats and manes.
For those who are incapable of showing a sense of responsibility, this shows them a somewhat lenient agenda to where they adapt to a consistent pattern more naturally.
Overall, therapeutic riding has an immense influence on a person as a whole. Meaning personally, physically, emotionally, and mentally it helps a person grow in extraordinary ways. It creates a clear and positive pathway for their success in the future. It also gives them a life changing experience that they can later look back and reflect on. Using animals as co-therapists' shows people that having a best friend as a horse can be life changing in so many ways.

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